TIRANA, March 16 – The mayor of Bulqiza and seven others have been arrested following an investigation by the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK).
The mayor Lefter Alla, the deputy mayor as well as six other officials are accused of criminal offenses that include “violation of the equality of participants in public tenders or auctions,” “abuse of power,” and “forgery” of paperwork.
According to SPAK, Mr. Alla as well as other officials committed several violations during a tender in April 2021, for the renovation of the sewerage network in the area known as the Old Neighborhood of the city of Bulqiza, worth about 3 million dollars. The tender was won by two companies: Egland Shpk and BE-IS Shpk
According to SPAK, the two companies in question presented only the documentation, while the works were carried out by the company OE 2AF Albania shpk, which is managed by Aqif Konesha, who has ties to the mayor.
The head of this company, Mr. Konesha, and two other administrators have also been arrested, while two other company officials have been placed under house arrest.
SPAK says that the procurement procedure is suspected to have been initiated and developed in violation of the laws.
The investigation showed that the arrested persons, including the mayor and the vice-mayor, favored one of the companies participating in the tender.
Mr. Alla took the office of mayor in the elections of June 2019, as a candidate of the Socialist Party.
A municipality of 14,000 people, Bulqiza is best known for its coper mines.
